Microsoft named Satya Nadella as its new chief executive officer Tuesday. Founder Bill Gates is stepping down to take a smaller advisor role.
In an email sent out to Microsoft employees, Steve Ballmer announced the big news. “Today is an incredibly exciting day as we announce Satya Nadella as the new CEO of Microsoft. Satya will be a great CEO, and I am pumped for the future of Microsoft.”
“During this time of transformation, there is no better person to lead Microsoft than Satya Nadella,” said Gates, in a statement to the press. “Satya is a proven leader with hard-core engineering skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together. His vision for how technology will be used and experienced around the world is exactly what Microsoft needs as the company enters its next chapter of expanded product innovation and growth.”
Gates said he will step down as chairman of the company and will assume a new role on the Board as Founder and Technology Advisor, and will “devote more time to the company, supporting Nadella in shaping technology and product direction.”
